Blog: But Alderman Moreno there are plenty of businesses in the 1st ward that already discriminate

I hope Alderman “Proco” Joe Moreno knows that there are plenty of businesses in the 1st ward that discriminate for a number of things.

Two days ago, Alderman Moreno told the Chicago Tribune this: “If you are discriminating against a segment of the community, I don’t want you in the 1st Ward.”

Those comments were in regard to the fast food restaurant Chick Fil-A. Chick-Fil-A is a southern-based fast food chain that believes in “traditional” marriage. This means they are against gay marriage. Even though I disagree with them that is their right to feel that way.

Most of my life, I have either worked, shopped or lived in the 1st ward. I’ve seen and heard my fair share of businesses that use discrimination to “steer” away unwanted patrons. Don’t get me started on some of the cab drivers in the neighborhood.

Let’s look at some of the people and groups the Alderman has taken campaign cash from. Some of the donors have some interesting stories. Let’s take a look at a few:

Juan Rangel, the CEO of the Latino charter school powerhouse UNO donated $250 in 2010. The same charter school that Mayor Rahm Emanuel uses as his backdrop when he needs support from the Latino community. One might say that the state rep. race between UNO-backed candidate Silvana Tabares and community activist Rudy Lozano, Jr. was a referendum in the unions vs. charter schools debate.

Juan Gaytan, Jr. of Monterrey Security Consultants, Inc. donated $1000 in March of this year. Gaytan,Jr. is a former Chicago Police Officer. Remember when then Chicago Police Superintendent Terry Hillard recommended that Gaytan, Jr. be fired? Allegedly, Gaytan threatened to shoot a Southwest Side man, and then had another police official smear fake blood on Gaytan’s face to make it seem as if Gaytan was attacked? A previous donation was made in 2010 under the name Monterrey Security.

Friends of George Cardenas donated $2000 dollars in 2010. 12th ward Alderman George Cardenas was a member of the Hispanic Democratic Organization (HDO). HDO was a politically-connected group that cornered the market when it came to corruption.

Richard Mell, 33rd ward Alderman donated $250 in 2010. Depending how old you are and where you grew up in the city, you might remember him for being Former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich’s father-in-law. You might also remember him from being a part of the Vrdolyak 29, the group that opposed everything the city’s first black mayor Harold Washington wanted to do in the city council.

Akira, the shoe store donated $4000 last year to the Alderman. Last year, I visited a friend who worked there. One of her co-workers took one look at me and jumped back. Maybe she thought I was there to rob the place (true story).

Since the Alderman does not want Chick-Fil-A in the 1st ward, the people on the south side could use it-and the jobs that go with it. No offense to anyone but it is what it is. Most of people who don’t want another Chick-Fil-A here are from the most hypocritical neighborhood in the city: Boys Town.

My take on this Chick-Fil-A thing is this: I have no problem with gay people but this fact of the matter is all of our money goes to some sort of B.S. we as the general public don’t even know about. I’m not defending them but that’s the truth. You can boycott them all you like but Apple founder Steve Jobs did donate a bunch of money our Mayor’s election campaign. Are you going to put down your iPhone and uninstall iTunes now?? Probably not.